Jatamansi (Indian Spikenard)

Jaṭāmāṃsī जटामांसी

Nardostachys jatamansi · Caprifoliaceae

Common: Nardus · Spikenard · Mansi · Nalada

herb rhizome shita cites-restricted

Rasa-Panchaka — five-fold pharmacology

Rasa: tikta · kashaya · madhura— tastes at first contact
Guna: laghu · snigdha— qualities
Virya: shita— potency (cooling)
Vipaka: katu— post-digestive effect

The six classical tastes (Ṣaḍ-rasa)

Dosha effect

Vata

↓pacifies

Pitta

↓pacifies

Kapha

↓pacifies

pacifies (↓) aggravates (↑) neutral (·)

Functions

sedative aromafragranceanti-greying hairanti-Pitta

Himalayan spikenard / nardus. Powerful sedative-aromatic. Used in luxury face oils, hair-conditioning oils, and as a fragrance fixative in Anulepa perfumes. CITES Appendix II — source cultivated.

Used in 4 recipes

taila Bhringaraja-Mahabhringa Taila (Anti-hair-fall master oil)

Mahābhṛṅgarāja Taila · महाभृङ्गराज तैल

scalp · hair

Khalitya (hair fall); Indra-lupta (alopecia).

vatapitta

taila Brahmi Tailam (Memory & scalp oil)

Brāhmī Taila · ब्राह्मी तैल

scalp · hair

stress-related hair fall; scalp tension.

vatapitta

churna Eladi Choornam (Eladi-gana face powder)

Elādi Cūrṇa · एलादि चूर्ण

face · body

pimples; rash.

vatakapha

churna Kasturyadi Choornam (Luxury udvartana — cosmetic version)

Kastūryādi Cūrṇa · कस्तूर्यादि चूर्ण

face · body

luxury body care; complexion enhancement.

tridoshic

Safety flags

CITES Appendix II — source cultivated only